Method and system for a roam-less mobile unit

Abstract

Described is system and method for assigning a unique identifier to a mobile unit (MU) requesting to be associated with a wireless network, transmitting the unique identifier to the MU, monitoring a location of the MU within a coverage area of the wireless network and selecting one of a plurality of access points to broadcast a beacon based on the unique identifier, wherein the MU communicates with the one access point.

1 . A method, comprising: 
 assigning a unique identifier to a mobile unit (MU) requesting to be associated with a wireless network;    transmitting the unique identifier to the MU;    monitoring a location of the MU within a coverage area of the wireless network; and    selecting one of a plurality of access points to broadcast a beacon based on the unique identifier, wherein the MU communicates with the one access point.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selecting of the one access point is based on the monitored location of the MU and at least one statistic of the wireless network.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of: 
 selecting another one of the plurality of access points to broadcast the beacon when the monitored location of the MU has changed, wherein, when the another access point is selected, the one access point ceases to broadcast the beacon and the MU communicates with the another access point.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of: 
 receiving a probe request from the MU requesting association with the wireless network;    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising the step of: 
 formatting a probe response including the unique identifier, wherein the transmitting of the unique identifier to the MU includes transmission of the probe response.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the unique identifier is a BSS.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless network is an IEEE 802.11 network.  
   
   
       8 . A system, comprising: 
 a mobile unit (MU);    a plurality of access points, each access point including a coverage area; and    a wireless switch of a wireless network receiving a request from the MU to associate with the wireless network, the wireless switch assigning a unique identifier to the MU and transmitting the unique identifier to the MU, the wireless switch further selecting one of the access points to broadcast a beacon based on the unique identifier, wherein the selecting of the one access point is based on a monitored location of the MU and at least one statistic of the wireless network.    
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the MU communicates with the one access point broadcasting the beacon.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the wireless switch selects another one of the plurality of access points to broadcast the beacon when the monitored location of the MU has changed.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the unique identifier is a BSS.  
   
   
       12 . A wireless switch connected to a wireless network, the wireless switch configured to: 
 assign a unique identifier to a mobile unit (MU) requesting to be associated with the wireless network;    transmit the unique identifier to the MU;    monitor a location of the MU within a coverage area of the wireless network; and    select one of a plurality of access points to broadcast a beacon based on the unique identifier, wherein the MU communicates with the one access point.    
   
   
       13 . The wireless switch of  claim 12 , wherein the selecting of the one access point is based on the monitored location of the MU and at least one statistic of the wireless network.  
   
   
       14 . The wireless switch of  claim 12 , wherein the wireless switch is further configured to: 
 select another one of the plurality of access points to broadcast the beacon when the monitored location of the MU has changed, wherein, when the another access point is selected, the one access point ceases to broadcast the beacon and the MU communicates with the another access point.    
   
   
       15 . The wireless switch of  claim 12 , wherein the wireless switch is further configured to: 
 receive a probe request from the MU requesting association with the wireless network;    
   
   
       16 . The wireless switch of  claim 15 , wherein the wireless switch is further configured to: 
 format a probe response including the unique identifier, wherein the transmitting of the unique identifier to the MU includes transmission of the probe response.    
   
   
       17 . The wireless switch of  claim 12 , wherein the unique identifier is a BSS.  
   
   
       18 . The wireless switch of  claim 12 , wherein the wireless network is an IEEE 802.11 network.